Anyone who has planted the small, typically first year grafted roots from Cricket Hill will recognize how much growth both of those has put on, especially the top one! Looks great, LG. And the darker roots might just be a year older, I find that the older ones are typically darker. I think you would've noticed them if they were rotting.
I am saying NOTHING bad about Cricket Hills roots, they typically grow well but most are 1st year and they're advertised as such. They are small though, I got 6 bare roots from them last year and they fit in a box that was 6"x6"x 12"! All looked healthy though and all look like they're going to grow this spring, doesn't appear that any died over winter.
I don't know which is actually better in the warmer climates, full sun or part shade, but you can always add shade! And if they weren't thriving where they were originally it's worth it to move them...the increase in roots make it appear that they were doing better than you thought!
